In Acts 9:1-5, Saul was confronted with the harsh reality that his life had been a failure in accomplishing what he thought had been his greatest success/obedience. He had to struggle through that deep valley where I am sure he had to question most everything about himself.

In Acts 9:1-5, Saul was confronted with the harsh reality that his life had been a failure in accomplishing what he thought had been his greatest success/obedience. He had to struggle through that deep valley where I am sure he had to question most everything about himself.

How have you responded to a failure? Have you let it define you? Listen to the commands that God gives Saul on this issue:

Acts 9:6 - Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.

God told him to move...not to sit and sour in his sin or discouragement. Saul did and this was critical to his 'getting up'. Likewise, you and I must not wallow in doubt, discouragement, anger or self-pity. Acts 9:8 says he 'picked himself up' even though he had been blinded.

Acts 9:17 - Saul was approached by a follower of Jesus named Ananias and was prayed for. Get that...a man that would have been a candidate for trial and death according to Saul just 3 days earlier was now coming to him and giving him grace. Saul had a choice. He could let this be a painful reminder of his past or he could forget what lay behind him (Philippians 3:13-14) and accept a new way. He chose well. How do you handle getting up when it involves being faced with your past?

In Acts 9:18-20 we learn two things about what Paul does next. He gets baptized and He begins preaching the Gospel. No moss gathering on this stone! Baptism was the outward obedient act of a person who had decided to follow Christ. Preaching was the obedient step for this man who had tried to please God before but was missing the truth of Jesus. Paul didn't just get up...he got going!